WASHINGTON, United States—The United States says despite recent improvements as a “significant” offshore centre, Antigua and Barbuda “remains susceptible” to money laundering. In its 2013 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report on money laundering and financial crimes, the US Department of State said that Antigua and Barbuda’s status stems from its offshore financial sector and Internet gaming industry.

Caribbean trade bloc governments have been so worried about the stark increase in chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension among citizens that they have twice organized special summits to address the issue and even pushed the United Nations into holding a high-level meeting to find ways of reducing these numbers.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - The fight against dengue, which is spread by the Aedes Egypti mosquito, costs the Caribbean a whopping US$321 million per annum. Prof Christine Carrington revealed this figure in her professorial inaugural lecture at Noor Hassanali auditorium, Faculty of Law, St Augustine Campus, on Thursday. Among those present were Prof Dean Ramsewak, Dean, Faculty of Medical Sciences, and PhD student (Molecular Genetics) Orchid Allicock.

WASHINGTON, CMC – The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has launched another call for proposals from civil society organizations that carry out activities focused on poverty reduction and social inclusion and development in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The call, made by the IDB’s Executive Director for the Government of Japan, Yasuhiro Atsumi, is for projects that support development through sustainable solutions in education, social protection, gender and rural community development in vulnerable communities in the 26 borrowing countries of the region.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - IF ever there is a puzzle between Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago, it has to do with the exceptionally long delay for the two countries to conclude a fishing agreement. Is it likely therefore that that there will ever be one? Last week the Prime Minister Freundel Stuart spoke on the matter which has been ongoing for well over 20 years.

CHARLOTTE AMALIE, US Virgin Islands—The United States Virgin Islands have now turned to moral suasion in an attempt to get fellow rum producing nations in the Caribbean Forum nation to back down from plans to take their ongoing dispute before the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

GEORGETOWN, Guyana - A huge burden is presently placed on the private sector in the Caribbean.   In the midst of steady economic decline of many Caribbean countries, governments have turned to the private sector to continue to earn foreign exchange, to keep down prices for goods and services, to maintain and expand employment, and to pay taxes.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana -- Haiti President Michel Martelly has urged the United Nations to divert some of the billions of dollars it spends yearly on peacekeeping efforts to infrastructure projects, job creation and poverty alleviation.
Officials need to think about sustainable development instead of security in the impoverished country that is still recovering from a devastating earthquake in 2010, Martelly said late Thursday while visiting Caricom's headquarters in Guyana as the Caribbean trade bloc's current chairman.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) wrapped up the Barbados leg of the Shanique Myrie case here during the past week and in the process completed a major demonstration of why this institution has become a critical part of our regional jurisprudence.

KINGSTON, Jamaica - Below is an edited version of a public lecture by Ambassador Albert R. Ramdin, assistant secretary general of the OAS, at the UWI, Mona, on March 19.
A few weeks ago, I read two separate headlines in the Caribbean press about CARICOM, which may have confused many. The headlines, which came within days of each other, were self-explanatory. One read 'CARICOM is in danger'. The other stated boldly, 'CARICOM is safe'.